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Another culture of the Japanese is to idolize the unseen. Entities of the Forgotten ages, supernatural, myth and extra-terrestrial have became a part and parcel of the life of Japanese. Movies, games, manga and other pop cultures have geared into this direction, thus toys are definitely included. Kaiyodo once again top the list with their collaboration with Furuta with a few series such as “Haunting of the 100 Ghosts”, “Demon Village” and the widely-popular “Parade of the Demons ~Yin & Yang~” designed by the supernatural master, Amarata. Remember a classic supernatural animation called “Ke ke ke no Kitaro (Gui Tai Lang)”? This classic manga series by Mizuki Shikeru had spawned about 3 series under the Kabaya brand and 1 series by Tomy. UHA’s “Collectors club” has been very popular now in it’s 4th series: “Sichi Bushiki (7 Unbelievable) series” which features mythological entities like Oni (ghost), Mermaid, Trojan Horse, Attack of the Martians, Hanging Garden of Babylon and even Japanese own Kaba etc; “Historical Monuments series” which features monuments like Egyptian mummy and sphinx, Chinese mud soldier (Bing Ma Yong); “Sichi Bushiki Reprise” and the recently released “Historical Monument Part 2”. Famous jigsaw puzzle maker, Yanoman has also done a series of mythical characters chess-pieces called “Demon’s Chronicle”, now in its 3rd series. Furuta has also done a series of famous movie creatures from the classic film master Rey Harrysuen who has made movies like “Sinbad”. Finally another hugely popular series by Kabaya called “Sekai no shinwa” (Mythology of the World) which now in it’s 3rd series covering classic Japanese gods, Oriental mythological figures, creatures like Griffith, Unicorn and Pegasus etc.
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Rey Harryseun's Film Creatures Anthology by Furuta |
Sekai no Shinwa 3 ~Oriental Characters~ by Kabaya |
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Demon's Chronicle Part 3 by Yanoman |
Ke Ke Ke Kitaro by Kabaya |
Finally I shall go into miniature food and
everyday accessories-based figurines. Re-ment has perhaps the biggest collection
of miniature food figurines. Under their “Pucchi Sample Series”, now in
it’s 14th series (+ 1 “Oshiare” series),
Re-ment has been
producing high quality miniature food models, which is unparallel by other
manufacturers. Some of the highlights in this successful series includes Part
3’s “Machi no Dessert ya san” (Dessert shop on the street) which features
some tasty desserts; Part 4’s “Chinese ryori machi” (Chinese cuisine
street, see right); Part 6’s “Japan island’s Bento Records”; Part 8’s
“Pucchi Supa”(Supermarket series) and Part 9’s “Furusato Sanchi
Chokusobin” (Trademark Foodstuffs sent by my mother back home). The extra
series is a “Cake on Parade” series, which featured all types of popular
cakes and pastries.
Other companies tried to dislodge Re-ment from the position of “the king of miniature foodstuffs trading figures” include Face with their “Shiawase (Fortunate) Bento” series; Kabaya with their “Cake! Cake! Cake!” collection; Friend co. with their “Small Café” series and finally Megahouse with their “Little Café” vignette series, but none could match Re-ment’s quality seriously. Meanwhile Yujin and Epoch have done plenty of mini food series gashapons like Yujin’s “yasai” (vegetable), fruits, ramen, sushi and Chinese cuisine series; Epoch’s “oden” (steamboat), “konbini bento” (Bento from convenience stores”, “nabe”(clay-pot) etc.
Megahouse has a pretty high quality “Omoi de” accessories trading figures series which include a school-life inspired “Gakkou no omoi de” series (now in part 4); “Depaya no omoi de” which features classic children’s joyrides you can find in department store; “Midori hi no omoi de” which features some classic stores which you can find in traditional Japanese festival etc. Bandai and Yujin also do school-inspired series into gashapon figurines. Meanwhile Epoch and Yujin are locked in battle again with a series each on nostalgic children playthings.
Nostalgic has been a theme in recent years with Takara especially doing plenty of trading figurines and gashapons on nostalgic stuffs like radio (All Night collection), “Nostalgic scenario series” (one on midori hi (carnival) & one on street vendors), “Nostalgic Household accessories” series (“Natsu” and “Fuyu” versions) etc. Takara also inspired a building model battle among manufacturers like Tomy (everyday street with bus, people etc), Bandai (Edo period building) and Kabaya (European building), by releasing their nostalgic streets and houses series. Kaiyodo has collaborated with several companies to produce some nostalgic accessories such as with QBG with antique teddy bears; Takara with miniature dolls and antiques; Sapporo beer with trademarks of Hokkaido etc.Bandai has done 2 series of classic die-cast children’s toys while Meiji has done a successful die-cast Astroboy toys as well. Nostalgic continues with Glico-Kaiyodo produced “Time Slip Glico” nostalgic everyday household accessories and Megahouse’s :”Nihon no omoi de” which features some classic Japanese household tools and items like fireplace, firewoods and water-pump etc. Children has also inspire Megahouse to produce a series of“Nostalgic Boys” series featuring children of the past up to their usual mischief while Popy has done a series of “Shonen Museum” showcasing children having fun imitating Kamen Rider and Ultraman.
Furuta and Takara each has done a series on
space explorer: Furuta with their Chocoegg series while Takara collaborated
with Kaiyiodo under their DCT brand, done “Startales: Royal Space Museum” (see
left). Yujin has done a series on important inventions of the 20th
century (see right)
, which includes the Wrights brothers’ prototype KittyHawk
plane, and the telescope.
Last but not least since Glico came out with their “Senshu no Melody Chocolate” which includes 8cm CD single of classic J-pop tunes , almost everyone wants to come out their own 8cm CD collections. Bandai came out with 2 series of “Hero and Heroines” anime soundtrack CDs; Bourbon has their own 70s and 80s J-pop CD collections; Lotte with their classic commercial jingles collection; Takara with their Pinky Lady songs collection; & Kabaya with their “Memory Time” series which features English tunes from the 50s to the 80s.Somehow this madness would not stop soon.
© Copyright KK Heng 2004
